The Mystery of the Frying Pan, Bronze Age Burial Chamber.
'at mid-night on a full moon, by the Quoit a child can be heard crying'
Also known as Carwynnen Quoit or Cromlech
English Heritage Scheduled Monument No396
Pendarves, Nr. Troon, Camborne, Cornwall.
OS SW6500 3720
Charity: - www.sustrust.co.uk
email: sustrust@aol.com or
philiphills@fsmail.net
Pendarves Quoit, in a collasped condition, is in an area of beautiful countryside to the south-west of the mining Town of Camborne in West Cornwall.
Surrounded by bluebell woods the Quoit is by an ancient way which can still be followed from Copper Hill Moors to the sea at Gwithian.
The Quoit stands on private setaside farmland. The Sustainable Trust (Patron: Satish Kumar) is in negotiations with the owners to buy the five acres of land on which the Quoit is situated for community and conservation use. It is hoped, with the help of English Heritage, Cornwall Archaeological Unit and the Heritage Environment Service to rebuild the Quoit to its former glory. On the land around the Quoit we hope to explore ancient farming methods and ways of life. It is proposed that there will be linking wildlife corridors between the existing woods on either side of the field (Pendarves Nature Reserve is next to the site).
This project will be of major significance as to the regeneration of the Camborne area and the protection of our traditions and culture.
John Harris, a major 19th century poet, was a miner who loved to walk in and was inspired by the Pendarves area. He is buried at Treslothan Churchyard with his beloved daughter Lucretia.
Our curious cromlechs! Let no hand of man
Destroy these stony prophets which the Lord
Has placed upon the tarns and sounding downs
With tones for distant ages.
'Destruction of the Cornish Toman' by John Harris
The Quoit, when standing, was similiar to Lanyon Quoit in West Penwith and the Antiquarians of the 18th and 19th centuries would of seen this site as of equal archaeological significance. On their archaeological tours the Quoit would of been a part of their itinerary.
The Quoit itself origionally stood on rough ground, however, it became part of the Pendarves Estate as the estate expanded in the 19th century.
The area is well worth visiting as there are many paths and bridleways around Pendarves and Copper Hill. The local village of Treslothan is delightful and a good place to park your car to begin local walks with a map. Buses also run to Troon from Camborne.
However, it has to be remembered that the Quoit is at present on private land and landowners rights must be respected.
We hope you agree this is a very exciting project and we are sourcing grants and advice. If you are able to help please contact us.
King Edward Mine Museum near Troon has information on the Pendarves family of the 19th century and it is hoped to make a record of people's memories of the area under the CAVA project at Tremough Campus.
More information and pages will be added to this website, please keep looking!
It sounds romantic but:
'at sunset on May 31st 2007 a beautiful barn owl made the most perfect swoop over the quoit, from the direction of Pendarves nature reserve against the setting sun. The barn owl circled the 'setaside land' a few times before diving for its meal where it stayed hidden in the undergrowth. The air was thick with insects and the buzz of life, the ground covered with the natural regeneration of enticing grasses, shrubbery and scents. Later the barn owl glided around the contours of Copper Hill. An evening full of mystery, I feel the sight bodes well for the future.'
'In early October, at sunset, the owl was sitting on one of the stones, at the highest point of the quoit site and then flew over to Pendarves Woods Nature Reserve and settled on one of the trees by the hedge.' October 15th 2007
Philip C. Hills June 2007
On a beautiful sunny Boxing Day afternoon a woodpecker hardly stopped 'hammering' in the woods near the Quoit. For anyone doubting climate change I have found, continually, growth buds on trees. Plants such as wild garlic have already started growing and I have found violets still in flower. Also, lookout for of daffodils in full flower as you go up Lanner Hill towards Redruth!
Boxing Day December 2007
All opinions on this website, except where quoted, are entirely my own and are not, necessarily, of any other organization, charity, author or any other given authority.